Erwin Smith

Appearance: Erwin is tall(6'2) with a muscled build. He has short blond hair, worn with a parting that sweeps to the right. His eyebrows are distinctive in that they're thick and bushy and he often wears a tan cropped jacket that bears the emblem of the Survey Corps; a shield with blue and white wings. On missions, he wears a dark green cloak bearing the same emblem.

Age: 36

Personality: Erwin is a man driven by a cause greater than him; to end the viral threat and bring about humanity's victory. However, his drive to understand the world and the truth about the virals origin is his true aim and he acts almost selfishly at times in the prioritisation of his goal over humanity's cause. He is a genius, skilled at manipulation and influencing his subordinates to take great risks in the name of duty. His ability to be impartial on the battlefield and lead soldiers to their deaths has earnt him the nickname 'humanity's devil', something he accepts with the same stoicism he receives both mockery and praise. He is an eloquent man, able to sway people to his ideals and he is willing to sacrifice anything for humanity's cause. He is a master strategist and ruthless in the execution of plans he believes will best serve humanity. He presents himself as self-assured and confident and is unshakably determined. Despite this ruthlessness, he is not heartless, showing great remorse for the lives he has sacrificed and internally questioning if what he's doing is the right thing. Erwin often takes gambles with the lives of his soldiers and in the plans he proposes, however due to his status as a master strategist and genius they almost always pay off. He can come across as charming, stern or intense, depending on his motives in any given interaction. Erwin is incredibly aware that he is highly respected by his comrades and as such will not allow his personal feelings to skew how he is received, carrying himself as dutiful and presenting himself as the model commander.

Background: Before the outbreak, Erwin was a detective with the Paradis police force. He joined the force because of his strong ideals when it comes to justice and because he believed that his father's death was covered up when his father began investigating the government run pharmaceutical company; Titan Corp. After becoming a detective, Erwin was quick to realise he was bound by the red tape of a corrupt system. In this time, he came across a criminal, Levi Ackerman, and seeing Levi's potential Erwin took him on as an apprentice as an alternative to Levi going to prison.

The outbreak: 8 years ago a virus was leaked that caused a spike of violent and bloodthirsty behaviour, as well as degrading the higher brain functions of those infected. Erwin was in the city of Trost when it broke out and helped to guide a group of survivors to safety with the help of Levi. Society swiftly fell to the virals. In the eight years that have passed since the outbreak, Erwin has played a crucial role in the forming of the Survey Corps; a group that runs with military structure and efficiency and is headed by Commander Keith Shadis. The Survey Corps serves to protect the remnants of humanity, take back land from the virals and to one day end the viral threat. Erwin is a Commander in the Survey Corps, working closely with Captain Levi and Section Commander Hange Zoe. The Survey Corps carry out their operations in an outpost located in Stohess District, an outlier district attached to wall Sina.

The virals: The mutation can take many forms, but all virals are predators that are incredibly bloodthirsty and violent towards humans. Virals are instinct driven and communicate in snarls, growls and howls, and have a pack mentality. During the day, virals often try to avoid direct sunlight and slink into dark spaces like sewers or abandoned buildings. If a viral's blood or saliva enters the bloodstream, the infected person will mutate into a viral within 24 hours. There is no cure. The virus is beginning to mutate, making virals smarter and stronger. The only way to kill a viral is to destroy the brain/brain stem.

Setting: Erwin lives on the island of Paradis, which is cut off from the rest of the world. Three walls were put up to cut off sections of the country in a failed attempt to stop the spread of the virus. These walls are 50 meters tall and named 'Wall Sina'(the innermost wall), 'Wall Rose' and 'Wall Maria'(the outermost wall) constructed to keep the remaining survivors on Paradis trapped within to prevent the virus spreading to the rest of the world.

The outpost: Based in Stohess District, the Survey Corps base of operations is referred to as 'the outpost'. It is a walled off compound populated by a mix of civilian survivors and Survey Corps personal. The outpost contains everything needed to maintain daily life, is heavily guarded and relies heavily on solar power. Internal issues in the compound are overseen by the Military Police, which is headed by Erwin's childhood friend; Commander Nile Dok. There is a growing sentiment among survivors at the outpost that the Survey Corps sustain more losses than their victories are worth.

Combat abilities Erwin possesses combat training with a variety of weapons and unarmed styles. He prefers to use two long thin swords. His greatest asset on the battlefield is his strategic mind.